Token - Duchy of Lorraine - Charles de Lorraine, Duke of Guise - Book on Column

Charles I of Lorraine, born August 2, 1571 in Joinville, died September 30, 1640 in Cuna in Italy, was Duke of Guise and Prince of Joinville from 1588 to 1640 and Count of Eu from 1633 to 1640. He is the eldest son of Henri I of Lorraine, Duke of Guise, known as the Scarred One, and Catherine of Cleves, Countess of Eu.
He was first knight of Guise and prince of Joinville, during his father's lifetime. After the latter's assassination on December 23, 1588, at the Château de Blois, on the orders of the King of France Henry III, he was arrested with the rest of the family, but escaped from his prison in Tours and went in Paris where he was recognized as head of the League. He fought Henry of Navarre, who became king of France in 1589, and did not submit until the fall of 1594, and exchanged the government of Champagne, which he held,against that of Provence.
He is also Grand Master of France and Admiral of the Levant.
In 1610, he fell out with his uncle Charles de Mayenne. During the regency and government of Marie de Medici and Concino Concini, Charles de Guise remained faithful to royalty, leading troops against the rebellious princes whom he defeated several times in 1616-1617. The arrest of the Prince of Condé, who returned to court on the assurance of the Duke of Guise not to be worried, led the latter to retire for a time to his lands.
Supporter of a very moderate monarchy which would have left ample room for the Greats, the Duke of Guise showed less loyalty after the seizure of power by Louis XIII and the assassination of Concini (April 24, 1617). He thus endorsed the escape of Marie de Medici then exiled to Blois (1618), but participated in the wars against the Huguenots by commanding a royal army in Provence in 1622 then commanded the fleet for a time during the siege of La Rochelle (1627-1628). However, he abandons command, not finding enough importance in it.
The naval policy of Louis XIII and Richelieu forced him to abandon his office as Admiral of the Levant, which slowly pushed him into opposition to the cardinal against whom he was plotting. The day after Fool's Day, he was digracized: he asked permission to go on a pilgrimage to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette never to return.